In a deadly turn of events during an overnight raid in the Jenin refugee camp, an Israeli soldier was killed and multiple others were wounded by roadside bombs early Thursday. The IDF identified the fallen soldier as Cpt. Alon Sacgiu, 22, a sniper squad commander from Hadera serving in the Kfir Brigade's Haruv reconnaissance unit.
As reported by the Times of Israel, the operation, aimed at capturing members of a Hamas terror network, took a tragic turn around midnight when a Panther APC (armored personnel carrier) struck an IED hidden beneath the road. As additional forces arrived to evacuate the injured soldiers from the APC, a second bomb detonated, resulting in Cpt. Sacgiu's death and further injuries to our troops.
In total, 16 soldiers were wounded in the attacks, with injuries ranging from light to serious. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the bombings.
Prior to the APC's passage, military bulldozers had scraped the road to uncover potential explosives, a standard procedure in Jenin where armed groups frequently plant such devices. However, the IDF believes these bombs were planted unusually deep, evading detection. The IDF has launched an investigation to improve IED detection methods and to develop safer protocols for extracting wounded soldiers from similar situations in the future.